Self clinching bundling strap



June 1965 D. P. SCHWESTER ETAL 3,136,947

SELF CLINCHING BUNDLING STRAP Filed Aug. 14, 1962 v N /32 M T w-zz E INVENTORS. DANIEL P. SCH wEs-rER HAROLD B. MARTIN FRANCIS A. OLOl/GHL/N A TTORNEK United States Patent 3,186,047 SELF CLINCHING BUNDLING STRAP Daniel P.'Schwester, East Orange, Harold B. Martin,

Roselle, and Francis A. OLoughlin, Scotch Plains, N.J., assignors to The Thomas & Betts Co., Elizabeth, N.J., a corporation of NewJersey Filed Aug. 14, 1962, Ser. No. 216,865 3 Claims. (Cl. 24-16) The present invention relates to bundling or tie straps of the character disclosed in Patent No. 3,022,667, issued to M. C. Logan and more particularly to a bundling strap of this character which embodies a self-clinching improvement therein.

In the use of bundling straps of this character, as known heretofore, a special tool was required to draw such straps taut, lock the same against reverse movement and to sever the surplus free end portion therefrom.

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a plastic bundling strap of the character described which is adapted to be looped about a plurality of elements and drawn taut thereon in self-clinching relation without the use of a special tool or the like.

Another object of the invention is to provide a selfclinching bundling strap as described wherein the body portion thereof is adapted to be locked against reverse movement throughout its length, when looped upon itself and drawn through the apertured head-end portion of the strap in inverted relation.

A further object of the invention is to provide a plastic bundling strap which is extremely simple in construction, inexpensive to use, and highly eflicient for the purpose intended.

With the above and, other objects in view, the invention resides in the novel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts, the novel features of which are set forth with particularlity in the appended claims, the invention itself, however, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, being best understood from the following description of a specific embodiment thereof, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing in which: j

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view showing the improved bundling strap as looped about a bundle of articles and to be drawn taut thereon in self-clinching relation;

FIGURE 2 is a foreshortened elevational view of the outer face of the improved bundling strap prior to being formed into a loop;

FIGURE 3 is a foreshortened elevational view of the opposite or ribbed face of the improved bundling strap prior to being formed into a loop; and

FIGURE 4 is a greatly enlarged fragmentary sectional View of the apertured head-end portion of the improved bundling strap showing a metallic insert as secured therein and showing the free end of said insert in self-clinching relation with the tail-end portion of said strap when looped upon itself through said apertured head-end portion.

Referring to the drawing, the improved bundling or tie-strap S, of molded nylon, for example, comprises an elongated body portion having a flat side 12, a convex side 14, and rounded, parallel marginal edges 16, and presenting a somewhat oval configuration in cross section.

The convex side 14 of the body portion 10 of the strap S includes a pair of spaced, parallel, relatively narrow ribs 18, which extend throughout the major length thereof as in the above identified patent. One end of the body portion 10, comprising its tail-end portion 20, is tapered in its width and thickness and provided on its fiat side 12 with small, spaced parallel projection, ex-

tending transversely thereof to provide a short finger gripping surface thereon.

The opposite or head-end portion 24 of the strap 3 terminates in an oval shaped clinching eyelet 26, presenting an end face projecting laterally from the flat side 12 of the strap and extending at right angles to the body portion 10 with an inclined fillet or gusset 28, continuing the flat side 12 of the strap body to the end-face of the eyelet 26 on the strap side thereof, the eyelet 26 having a transverse, substantially elliptical aperture 30, therethrough presenting a convex side, an opposite flat side and opposite rounded ends of such size and radii as to correspond to the cross-sectional area of the body portion 10 of the strap.

In accordance with the invention and as shown in FIGURE 2, the projecting end face 32 of the eyelet portion 26 is provided with aligned, rectangular slots 34 and 36, formed centrally across the aperture 30 therein, the slot 34 extending through the wall of the eyelet 26 to the full thickness thereof to provide a clearance path to the slot 36, which extends only to the fillet or gusset 28 between the eyelet portion 36 and the flat side 12 of the strap S, whereby a rectangular recess or cavity 38 is formed within the eyelet portion 26 on the strap side thereof and inwardly of its end face 32. While the wall A of the recess or cavity 38 in the eyelet portion 26 is shown at right angles to the inner wall B thereof, as seen in FIGURE 4, the angle between these two surfaces may, if desired, be less than degrees, as indicated by the broken line 46, without departing from the invention.

Further in accordance with the invention, a thin, fiat flexible pawl-like member or tongue 42 of stainless steel, for example, is inserted, forced or otherwise introduced into the gusset'28 of the eyelet portion 26, at the juncture between the walls A and B defining two sides of the recess or cavity 38 therein, at an acute angle to the axial center of its transverse aperture 30, the inserted end of the tongue 42, presenting a substantially symmetrical point whereby to displace the plastic nylon equally to each side thereof in guiding, driving or otherwise introducing the tongue 42 thereinto as clearly shown in FIGURE 4. The free end portion of the pawl-like member or tongue 42, presents an angular or beveled end face defining a line or knife edge 44, square therewith which extends into the aperture 30, transversely of and across its axial center but within the laterally projecting end face 32 of the eyelet portion 26. Thus, when the body portion of the strap S is looped upon itself and drawn through the eyelet portion 26, the projecting free end of the tongue 42, will flex as the looped body portion of the strap is drawn over the same but will react and bite into the said body portion and thus lock the same against relative reverse movement in response to the strap being placed under tension.

It is to be noted that the angle of the tongue insert 42, relative to the axial center of the eylet aperture 30 is such as to provide maximum ease of entry of the strap into and through the eyelet aperture 30, while providing, at the same time, optimum retention force on the same when locked against relative reverse movement.

As disclosed in the herein identified Logan patent, the convex side 14, of the strap body portion 10, includes a pair of spaced, parallel, relatively narrow ribs 44 which extend throughout the major length thereof for the purpose of holding the strap against relative lateral shifting movement when looped about a plurality of bunched articles, by the gripping action of the ribs 44 thereon while permitting relative rotation thereof. Moreover, the configuration and cross-sectional area of the body portion 10 of the strap S, and the configuration and area of the aperture 30, in the eyelet portion 26 are substantially equal but reversed with respect to each other to provide for the looping of the strap body portion upon itself in reverse relation for the purpose described.

It is to be noted further that the bundling strap S herein disclosed may also include, as a part of its headend portion 24, a continuation thereof in the form of a circular boss provided with a transverse aperture therethrough adapted for securing the strap to a fixed support as exemplified in the herein identified patent.

While the invention has been illustrated and described with respect to one embodiment thereof, it is to be expressly understood that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the inventive concept underlying the same. Therefore, the invention is not to be limited except as is necessitated by the prior art and the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A self clinching bundling strap comprising a headend portion, a tapered tail-end portion and a body portion therebetween, said head-end portion having a transverse aperture therethrough and including an eyelet portion projecting from one side thereof with a gusset therebetween on the strap side of said eyelet, said eyelet portion having a rectangular slot in the end face thereof in alignment with and extending into said gusset forming a rectangular recess therewith within said eyelet portion in communication with said aperture, and a resilient metallic tongue having one end portion thereof imbedded in said gusset with its opposite end portion extending through said recess into said aperture and across the axial center thereof at an acute angle thereto presenting a line edge transversely of the axial center of said aperture adapted for locking the body portion of said strap in minute increments of adjustment against relative reverse. movement when looped upon itself through said aperture.

2. A self clinching bundling strap comprising a headend portion, a tapered tail-end portion and a body portion therebetween, said head-end portion having a transverse aperture therethrough and including an eyelet portion projecting from one side thereof with a gusset therebetween on the strap side of said eyelet portion, said eyelet portion having a pair of rectangular slots in the free end face thereof in alignment with said gusset, one of said slots extending into said gusset and forming therewith a rectangular recess within said eyelet portion in communication with said aperture, and a resilient metallic tongue having one end portion thereof imbedded in said gusset with its opposite end portion extending through said recess into said eyelet portion and across the axial center thereof at an acute angle thereto and presenting a line edge transversely of the axial center thereof adapted for locking the body portion of said strap in minute increments of adjustment against relative reverse movement when looped upon itself through said aperture, said other rectangular slot providing clearance for the angular insertion of said metallic tongue into said gusset.

3. A self clinching bundling strap comprising a headend portion, a tapered tail-end portion and a body portion therebetween, said head-end portion having a transverse aperture therethrough including an eyelet portion projecting axially from one side thereof with a gusset therebetween on the strap side of said eyelet portion, said eyelet portion having a rectangular slot in the end face thereof in alignment with said gusset, said slot extending into said gusset and forming therewith a rectangular recess within said eyelet portion in communication with the aperture through the head-end portion of said strap, and a flat resilient metallic tongue having a substantially symmetrical pointed end portion thereof imbedded in said gusset with its opposite end portion extending through said recess into said aperture at least to the axial center thereof at an acute angle thereto and presenting a bevelled end face defining a knife edge transversely of the axial center of said aperture adapted for engaging and locking the body portion of said strap in minute increments of adjustment against relative reverse movement when looped upon itself through said aperture.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,305,277 12/42 Sloane et al 24208.3 2,936,980 5/60 Rapata. 3,009,220 11/61 Fein 24206 3,022,557 2/62 Logan 24l7 3,102,311 9/63 Martin et al. 2416 FOREIGN PATENTS 261,600 12/28 Italy.

268,929 9/50 Switzerland.

811,973 4/59 Great Britain.

580,385 7/59 Canada. 1,180,784 1/59 France.

DONLEY J. STOCKING, Primary Examiner. SAMUEL KOREN, Examiner. 

3. A SELF CLINCHING BUNDLING STRAP COMPRISING A HEADEND PORTION, A TAPERED TAIL-END PORTION AND A BODY PORTION THEREBETWEEN, SAID HEAD-END PORTION HAVING A TRANSVERSE APERTURE THERETHROUGH INCLUDING AN EYELET PORTION PROJECTING AXIALLY FROM ONE SIDE THEREOF WITH A GUSSET THEREBETWEEN ON THE STRAP SIDE OF SAID EYELET PORTION, SAID EYELET PORTION HAVING A RECTANGULAR SLOT IN THE END FACE THEREOF IN ALIGNMENT WITH SAID GUSSET, SAID SLOT EXTENDING INTO SAID GUSSET AND FORMING THEREWITH A RECTANGULAR RECESS WITHIN SAID EYELET PORTION IN COMMUNICATION WITH THE APERTURE THROUGH THE HEAD-END PORTION OF SAID STRAP, AND A FLAT RESILIENT METALLIC TONGUE HAVING A SUBSTANTIALLY SYMMETRICAL POINTED END PORTION THEREOF IMBEDDED IN SAID GUSSET WITH ITS OPPOSITE END PORTION EXTENDING THROUGH SAID RECESS INTO SAID APERTURE AT LEAST TO THE AXIAL CENTER THEREOF AT AN ACUTE ANGLE THERETO AND PRESENTING A BEVELLED END FACE DEFINING A KNIFE EDGE TRANSVERSELY OF THE AXIAL CENTER OF SAID APERTURE ADAPTED TO ENGAGE AND LOCKING THE BODY PORTION OF SAID STRAP IN MINUTE INCREMENTS OF ADJUSTMENT AGAINST RELATIVE REVERSE MOVEMENT WHEN LOOPED UPON ITSELF THROUGH SAID APERTURE. 